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The countdown is underway for the next big events on the pop culture calendar. Some fans can’t wait for the NCAA March Madness team selection. Others are looking forward to the iHeartRadio Music Awards. But in the meantime there’s Jordan Peele and Iyanla Vanzant taking fans on a ‘sharp turn, best life’ ride.

For Peele it’s in the success of his movie Get Out which won at the Oscars for Best Original Screenplay. It’s the first time that’s happened for an African-American. The movie is part horror, part thriller and part comedy. It starts out with a car making a sharp turn on a local street as the plot unfolds.

It was a different kind of March Madness in the season opener for Iyanla’s ‘reinvention show’ on OWN. Things didn’t work out the normal way where the guest accepts the chance to find a path towards their best life. Peele and Vanzant generally put their gifts to work on their first audience.. which is themselves.

They know the road to redemption or achieving aspirations usually starts on ‘Self Street.’ Oftentimes how we reach higher is an extension of our comfort with self. Peele and Vanzant turned what appeals/reveals to self as a formula for a successful movie or unscripted TV show that could have been counted out.

In a recent ‘Oprah at the Apollo’ interview Peele gave an inside look into the steps he took in moving his dreams in the right direction. Vanzant often shares hers by saying that she had to do the work to achieve the healing before her place of shining. Their first audience of success started out by taking:

Preparation Steps

Before celebration there’s always preparation. That’s true whether planning a party or going after your dreams. Before becoming a computer engineer I took preparations steps in college. Before going after my dreams in business I took preparation steps as a novice-in-training. These steps help put us in the game.

Production Steps

It’s been said that people can have beginners luck when playing a game for the first time. Things kinda come your way even without trying hard. Where beginners luck ends is where production steps begin. It can be a surprise to do things well the first time. But you build production value doing it again and again.

Breakout Steps

We expect to eventually have breakout steps along the way. The ‘Get Out’ movie is a sort of breakout step for Peele after leaving his Comedy Central gig. Vanzant had her breakout step when she first hosted a daytime talk show. They’ve used breakout steps in taking a risk or setting out as a trailblazer.

Comeback Steps

They’ve also shown they can turn setbacks into comebacks. It’s something we’re teaching our daughter who’s been dealing with a leg (hamstring) injury. Each time it seemed like she was ready to return to her sport she’s had to pull back. Comeback steps help us with raising our game and elevating our dreams.

The journey of a 1000 miles begins with the first step. Whether we choose to walk, run or drive there can be lots of oohs and aahs on the ride. Steve Harvey reminds us that things might go south or get rough as part of God’s plan. But those who get back up keep things moving because they have dreams to celebrate.

Tip: The dream journey of a 1000 miles starts with preparation steps that might set us on a path as trailblazers taking breakout steps.

Talkback: Is it drama or trauma that makes things come alive in Get Out or on Vanzant’s TV show?

The graduation season might be winding down. Many have walked across the stage to collect their diploma. Now they’re ready to take things to the next level. This is true even for those long done with formal education. Case in point, Steve Harvey continues to build brand identity and a river of dreams.

He’s heard on radio, seen of TV and has become a best-selling author. More recently he’s expanded his Family Feud hosting gig with a celebrity edition. He leads his mentoring program that pours into a river of dreams. All of this has come about by building brand identity around comedy, personality and serenity.

Harvey might say living the dream is all about packaging your passion. Some in comedy build their passion around jokes for making people laugh. Others do so by making a fool of themselves or like Amy Schumer making silly salty. But full-throttle passion for most folks is where skills and thrills runneth over.

Then there’re people who package their dream around their pain. Richard Pryor was one of the best at making people laugh at times he may have cried. Others like Iyanla Vanzant package their dream around explaining their pain. Harvey jokes about embracing his pain during the three years he was homeless.

Dream achievers remind us that when passion and pain are in the mix it opens up new possibilities. In some sense this is what they learned from living their dream. You might have to test the waters or go to “a place without no name.” When you get there your story will be one that moves people and the market.

Graduation season winding down. Parties had in many a town. They took the stage for their diploma. Went out to eat and savor the aroma. Putting things on a next level track. Knowing there’s no turning back. True for those in careers or on teams. As Steve Harvey builds brand identity and river of dreams.

Heard on radio, as seen on tv. And best-selling author respectfully. Lately hosting Family Feud celebrity edition. Put together like a man on a mission. Leads mentoring program for turning boys to men. Living his dream as a top ten. All this by building his brand identity. With comedy, personality and serenity.

Harvey might say it’s about packaging your passion. Whether in comedy or other profession. Some do jokes just for laugh-a-lots. Others build around a certain life plot. Making a fool of themselves or being salty. Maybe all of the above and a little naughty. Where skills and thrills runneth good under or over forty.

Some package their dream around pain. Richard Pryor among the best when sane. Making people laugh about how he cried. Stretching the punchline in ways he didn’t hide. Other like Iyanla explain their pain. In letting it support their gain. Harvey jokes embrace homelessness. His pain for three years of restlessness.

Dream achievers know the score. Passion and pain opens them up for more. So the possibilities are awaiting. That’s what dreams are good for teaching. Having to test the waters and the game. In going to “a place without no name.” What you’ll gain is a story. That moves people, the market and personal glory.

Tip: People who move the market build brand identity that leads to a river of dreams and money streams.Talkback: Which moves the market more, people’s passion or people’s pain?Groove-Tracks:Michael Jackson – ‘A Place Without No Name’ – https://youtu.be/YlJvMU-5NyA